There is no sign that harmful levels of radiation are drifting into Tokyo or other large cities in Japan, according to United Nations and World Health Organization officials. "Dose rates in Tokyo and other cities remain far from levels which would require action; in other words, they are not dangerous to human health," Graham Andrew, an official with the United Nations' International Atomic Energy Agency, told reporters Friday, according to Reuters. Photos: In Japan, life amid crisis World Health Organization officials in Switzerland gave a similar assessment a day earlier.

Secretary of State Warren Christopher visits Tokyo this week, and is scheduled to go on to Beijing, facing crisis talks at both stops. His meetings in Tokyo, which begin Wednesday, will concentrate on growing trade frictions. The Clinton Administration's decision to renew a provision of trade law that could be used to retaliate against Japanese imports has produced a wave of protests in Japan. U.S.-China relations have reached a low point because of China's human rights record.

Prime Minister Tomiichi Murayama leaves today for a five-day visit to China. In meetings with President Jiang Zemin and Premier Li Peng, he is expected to ask China to use Japan's Bullet Line technology to build an 818-mile, high-speed railway between Beijing and Shanghai at a cost of between $8 billion and $10 billion. The railway line, to be finished by 2000, would reduce traveling time from more than 17 hours to about 7 hours. Last December, Japan agreed to offer China $6.

Looking toward Tokyo this spring, summer or fall? Malaysia Airlines is offering an LAX-to-Tokyo round-trip fare for $672 that includes all taxes and fees. Under the terms of the special, departure must be made by May 1, or between Sept. 1 and Dec. 15. The deal, which is subject to availability, must be bought by April 26. Info at Malaysia Airlines Source: Airfarewatchdog.com Follow us on Twitter @latimestravel and like us on Facebook

Celebrate the art and culture of Japan at Little Tokyo's annual 2010 Cherry Blossom Festival. There will be activities for children, martial arts demonstrations, contemporary and traditional dance performances and more. This year there will also be a stage with Japanese pop performances. 1st Street and Central Avenue, L.A. 10:30 a.m.-6:30 p.m. Sat, 10:30 a.m.-5 p.m. Sun. Free. (626) 683-8243. www.cherryblossom.

For late summer travel as well as fall travel to Tokyo, Singapore Airlines has an $870 round-trip fare from LAX that includes all taxes and fees. It is for travel Mondays-Thursdays from Sept. 1 until Nov. 20 and for return any day of the week through February. It is subject to availability. Info: Singapore Air , (800) 742-3333 Source: Airfarewatchdog

Sam Jameson, a former longtime Los Angeles Times foreign correspondent with deep knowledge and close personal affinity for Japan, his professional and personal base for half a century, died Friday at a Tokyo hospital. He was 76. Jameson died of a stroke, according to an announcement by the Foreign Correspondents' Club of Japan, of which he was a former president. He had been hospitalized since March 24. Sent to Japan by the Army in 1960 after he was drafted, Jameson, who became fluent in Japanese and an expert on Japanese politics and economics, worked first for Pacific Stars and Stripes, the U.S. military newspaper.

Sumo wrestlers and samurai converged Saturday as the 69th annual Nisei Week Festival drew several thousand people to Little Tokyo. While the wrestlers groaned and charged at one another inside a ring, sword-wielding samurai visiting from Nagoya, Japan, hit the stage to perform a prewar ritual said to have been presented only once before outside Japan. In elaborate 15th and 16th century warrior armor topped with giant horns, the dozen men and women reenacted the moment when Japanese samurai pledged their lives, then marched to battle.

Tokyo is the most expensive city in the world for expatriates to live, topping a list on which half of the top 10 priciest places are in Asia. Osaka and Nagoya, both in Japan, are also on the list , as are Singapore and Hong Kong. The rest of the top 10 includes Luanda in Angola, Ndjamena in Chad as well as Moscow, Geneva and Zurich in Europe. The first time an American city shows up in the 214-city compilation is one-third down the list, with New York. But as the dollar strengthens against other currencies, other U.S. metropolises are rising in the ranks.

With $736,000, some people would buy a helicopter. Or a small Beverly Hills home. Or 150 Rolex watches. But with his six figures, Kiyoshi Kimura picked up a single frozen tuna. Specifically, a 593-pound bluefin sold during the first auction of the year at Japan's Tsukiji fish market, which will go to feed customers at Kimura's Tokyo-based Sushi-Zanmai sushi chain, according to the Associated Press. The price busted past Tsukiji's record of $421,000, paid last year by a Hong Kong bidder.